Faust and Mephisto Playing Chess

All eyes are fixed on the densely populated board: whose turn is it, and who will win? Faust is playing against Mephisto, and his soul is at stake. On the left sits Mephisto in a red cloak, his head slightly bowed, a finger tentatively pressed to his mouth, whilst his other hand already rests amongst the pieces; Faust leans far forward towards him, pressing his fingers to his forehead and grasping a piece with his free hand, without making his move. Behind them both stands a winged figure in white, whose clasped hands and downcast gaze suggest salvation, whilst stone pillars and dark arches frame the scene. Red, blue and white clearly arrange the three figures around the black-and-gold chessboard. In Goethe’s work, this chess game does not take place; rather, it depicts the pact as a struggle between doom and salvation - a motif popular in the 19th century that frequently appears in engravings and paintings. The artist behind this depiction, created around 1900, remains unknown.

In this version, the motif is rendered on a Leonardo canvas with a satin-finished surface, yet the actual visual impact is determined by Esme, a gold frame with a strikingly deeply sculpted profile. A narrow gold border runs directly along the edge of the painting, followed by a dark ornamental zone with regularly spaced arches; after which the wide moulding opens up, its patina consisting of fine scratches, dark speckles and uneven signs of wear. On the outside, a relief band of tendrils runs across a dark background; beneath it, a narrow sequence of small, golden raised elements forms the finishing touch. The craftsmanship is particularly evident in the lower right-hand corner: The mitre joints meet cleanly, the ornamental lines end flush, and even the many changes in profile retain their clear lines there. Here, the materials have not been thrown together haphazardly, but carefully coordinated.

The scene feels so unsettling precisely because no one is triumphing: Mephisto waits, Faust hesitates, and the silent figure behind the board may well have known the outcome all along.